Prayer Bracelet – Why & Wherefore?

I need to pray

I need to spend time with God

Time to get to know Him

How

With my Mind

A washing machine

Churning worries and fears

Great chunks of confusion

Thumping around

How to slow thoughts

Capture fleeting ideas

Hold onto gossamer dreams

Do I grit teeth determined to

Pray peaceful thoughts if it kills me?

When did silence

Become a problem

I’m afraid

If I stop the noise

Silence will be

Hopeless

Overwhelming

I search the web for ideas on prayer

I find plenty

Many familiar

Some bizarre

Others unusual

I plump for unusual

And

In exploring

I am pleasantly surprised

Bishop Emeritus Martin Lönnebo

Swedish

Lutheran

Wise

Tells how his idea was born on a Greek island during a storm

The way he credits God with the Inspiration

Rings comfortably true

He calls them

The Pearls of Life

A string of beads

To Centre

To Focus

To set the Heart Godward

In Prayer

At first

I find the idea of using beads to pray

Unsettling

But Fr Lönnebo’s suggestions are

Infused

With the peace I crave

The prayer band is very simple

But seven years ago

I could find neither the beads nor the book in Australia

I made my own

These beads do not have set prayers

They are a mnemonic

A memory aid

Directing thoughts

Concentrating Prayers

On a particular subject

The first band I make is basic

From generous thoughts Fr Lönnebo shared on site

I begin to use the bracelet

I begin to slow down

Finding a way to peaceful prayer

Less important at the time

I began to allow for silence

Now

Having worn out the first two

I made a third prayer band

I changed the recipe a little

Using wire and findings from a craft shop

I can wear the band as a bracelet

Father Lönnebo keeps the band with him

As a reminder to involve God in his day

The beads I choose are distinctive by feel

At night when wakeful

I can hold the band and pray

Recognising each bead by touch in the darkness

Whether by Day or Night

Stilling the thoughts

Now I pray

In Peace

Pearls of Life by Bishop Emeritus Martin Lönnebo published by Verbum

~ by Denise Within the Vine on 26/10/2010.

Posted in Books, Encouragement, I Made, Inspiration, Meditation, Prayer, Prayer Bracelet, Reflections, Thanksgiving, Treasures of Darkness, Walking with Him

6 Responses to “Prayer Bracelet – Why & Wherefore?”

Thanks Denise. Your posts have been really helpful. I have been making jewellery for about 5 years, so I have all the resources I need to make the prayer bracelet. I’ve been looking forward to finding out about them. Thanks for your words of wisdom and encouragement. They are much appreciated.

Bronwyn Wood said this on 26/10/2010 at 7:41 pm
It’s my pleasure Bronwyn, it took a while so well done for being patient. I hope you enjoy making a Prayer Bracelet for yourself… and using it x x De

denisestanford said this on 27/10/2010 at 11:05 am
May GOD Bless you !!! Mark

markbyrd said this on 29/10/2010 at 3:22 am
What A inspiring post, its kinda like a poem. I myself use a prayer rope bracelet when praying. It is truly a tool to focus our mind towards prayer.

I especially like your comparison of our mind with a washing machine.. always spinning our thoughts off prayer. It is hard these days in this fast moving world to truly focus our mind on prayer, luckily we have our bracelets to help us.

Mr Komboskini said this on 29/10/2010 at 3:32 am
Blessings, May God meet with you in a special way
to show you the richness of His Grace
and the depth of His Love, for you.

denisestanford said this on 30/10/2010 at 8:21 am
[…] to use a Prayer Bracelet to focus prayers at […]

Prayer Bracelet – Christmas « Within the Vine said this on 15/12/2010 at 4:51 pm

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